The twelfth and final release in a dozen-years-long recording career,
Tidal Wave of Hype is only
the Wake's fourth album. It also sounds like guitarist Caesar, keyboardist
Carolyn Allen, and drummer Steven Allen are ready to call it a day; nearly every song on the album features fed-up, witheringly sarcastic lyrics. If it's not a scathing character study like "Crasher," "Obnoxious Kevin," or "Provincial Disco," the last of which is just plain mean-spirited, it's the deeply ironic album title, the depressing graffiti-strewn cover photos, and self-lacerating tunes like "Solo Project" and "Down On Your Knees." The songs are wispy jangle pop in the Sarah Records tradition, pretty enough to hide the alternately virulent and despondent lyrics, but the unlisted bonus track, 41 seconds' worth of tolling funeral bells, is enough to drive the point home. The Wake split up shortly after this record was released. The U.S. release on the Widely Distributed label adds both songs from 1991's "Major John"/"Lousy Pop Group" single.